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Wednesday, November 5, 2008

That's a good question for all Christians to ask ourselves from time to time.

In Malachi 3:14, we read about people being confronted with sinful, self centered motives for serving the Lord.

They are asking, "What "profit" is there in serving the Lord? It is clear that what they really care about is, "what's in it for me?"

In 2 Timothy 4:3, we read the apostle's warning to Timothy of the skewed motivations he will encounter in those who claim to follow Christ but in reality only follow their own lusts.

God's people would not be heaping teachers to themselves who lead them into deception, doctrines of devils, error, apostasy (and they are presently doing just that in record numbers), unless there was something in it for them.

Paul spoke of the time when many who profess Christ would cease to endure sound doctrine. Are we living in that time now?

Why are we serving Christ? Is it time to pray the prayer found in the Psalms, "Test my thoughts. Search my heart...?

Christian Book Publisher, Jocelyn Andersen, is the author of, Woman Submit! Christians & Domestic Violence, For more information about her books, visit her author page at amazon.com/author/jocelynandersen

Friday, August 29, 2008

In exodus 32, Moses is instructed by the LORD to get down from the mountain because the people had “corrupted themselves.” What exactly does it mean to be “corrupted?”

To most of us, corruption means filth, vice and perversion. So if we don’t fit into those categories, we feel quite safe from corruption, don’t we. But are we really?

The following example comes to mind:As I was working on my computer, I recently received a message from my anti-virus program that said, “RISKWARE. HIDDEN INSTALL.” That was alarming. I was informed that there were a couple of programs installed and running on my computer without user interaction. In other words, these programs were just doing their own thing without my permission or knowledge.

They had somehow managed to slip by the security systems I had in place and were now writing their own files in my system, while, at the same time, were altering other files. Healthy files on my computer were becoming corrupted.

Listen to this commentary here, or scroll down to continue reading:

How could that be, when, on the surface, everything appeared normal?

I called my PC tech and was told that although things appeared normal, and my computer seemed to be functioning just fine at the moment, the RISKWARE, unless gotten rid of, would continue to write its own files, while altering others. And one day, when enough critical files were altered, my computer would be effectively destroyed. How long would that take? It depends, he said, on how fast the RISKWARE worked.

Even though a computer can function with some corrupted files, it is not something that can usually be ignored indefinitely.

What happens when a file is corrupted?1.) It loses functionality. It no longer executes commands correctly2.) It becomes utterly useless—destroyed

But isn’t it interesting, that the results of corrupting a file are not always immediately apparent? Things can roll happily along for quite some time…until the file that has been corrupted is needed. Then, it will either zig when it should zag, or it simply will not respond at all.

RISKWARE. HIDDEN INSTALL! How in the world does that happen? In my case, something harmful had been injected into my system through something which appeared to be safe (remember the story of the Trojan Horse? The gift that rolled through the gate of the city, that was, in reality, a hidden bunker harboring enemy troops?). I had downloaded a program that was acting as a hidden bunker for this RISKWARE, a malicious virus, that had now made my healthy system its home and was working stealthily at corrupting it—writing its own files (one right after another), and altering others. My system was slowly but steadily changing—for the worse.

And I was assured by my tech support, that the situation would continue to deteriorate, until one day, my computer would lose functionality altogether. It would become completely corrupted…and crash.

Aren’t people like that? Can’t we function, apparently quite normally (sometimes for a very long time), even with a few corrupted files? But even so, it is a serious thing when we allow the situation to continue without intervention.

Through His risen son—Christ Jesus, His Holy Spirit, and His Word—the Bible, God has given us all things that pertain to LIFE and to godliness. But we are the keepers of the gate. Jesus said we must be DOERS of the Word and not hearers only.

If we are hearers only, and not obedient to the word of God, RISKWARE will infest our lives and spirits—writing files on our hearts that oppose God, His word and His Spirit, altering our attitudes until we are changed—for the worse, no longer responding to the Spirit of God, or to others, as we should—as He intended. We become hardened to selfishness, pride, materialism, blatant sin and destruction. Our conscience no longer bothers us. We become comfortable inviting even more RISKWARE into our lives by watching things on television (movies or DVD’s), listening to things on radio (CD’s or MP3’s), or participating in activities that once we knew were wrong and would have made us feel badly—but no longer. We are headed for destruction and don’t even know it. Our lives, and the lives of those closest to us, are adversely affected. Our relationships are damaged or ruined. Our physical, mental and emotional health is adversely affected. Our faith is eroded and headed for shipwreck.

Without intervention, we are on a collision course with utter destruction—we are going to crash. And Jesus said when the crash comes, it will be a big one.

But if we hear His word and act on it (are you reading your Bibles every day, always picking up today where your left off yesterday?), our system defenses will work properly. The RISKWARE will be detected and gotten rid of before we become completely corrupted. We will respond to the Spirit of the Lord, and to others, as we should. We will function properly as our creator intended. We will walk in the peace and the victory that Jesus promises to those who love and obey Him.

Do you know Jesus as your savior? Are you absolutely certain that you have eternal life that only he can give? If not, open your Bible and begin reading at the New Testament Book of John. We recommend a King James Bible with no chapter headings or study notes.

For more Christian Grown resources, visit our main website at www.HungryHeartsMinistries.com

Christian Book Publisher, Jocelyn Andersen, is the author of, Woman Submit! Christians & Domestic Violence, For more information about her books, visit her author page at amazon.com/author/jocelynandersen

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Christian Book Publisher, Jocelyn Andersen, is the author of, Woman Submit! Christians & Domestic Violence, For more information about her books, visit her author page at amazon.com/author/jocelynandersen

Christian Book Publisher, Jocelyn Andersen, is the author of, Woman Submit! Christians & Domestic Violence, For more information about her books, visit her author page at amazon.com/author/jocelynandersen

Christian Book Publisher, Jocelyn Andersen, is the author of, Woman Submit! Christians & Domestic Violence, For more information about her books, visit her author page at amazon.com/author/jocelynandersen

Christian Book Publisher, Jocelyn Andersen, is the author of, Woman Submit! Christians & Domestic Violence, For more information about her books, visit her author page at amazon.com/author/jocelynandersen

Friday, July 4, 2008

Christian Book Publisher, Jocelyn Andersen, is the author of, Woman Submit! Christians & Domestic Violence, For more information about her books, visit her author page at amazon.com/author/jocelynandersen

Christian Book Publisher, Jocelyn Andersen, is the author of, Woman Submit! Christians & Domestic Violence, For more information about her books, visit her author page at amazon.com/author/jocelynandersen

Friday, May 16, 2008

What is the difference Between being religious (full of dead works) and having a living faith?

In Matthew 23, We find Jesus preaching hard and having a regular hissy fit with the religious leaders of his day.

But before he started rebuking them, he was careful to instruct his followers not to rebel against the "God-instituted" authority of that day (whose leadership was admittedly flawed and coming to a swift end). After that, he proceeded to flail that authority for all it was worth--publically.

He pointed out that even though they said the right things, they did not do the right things.

In chapter 23, Jesus warned his followers to, "do what they say (speaking of the scribes and Pharisees, but do not do what they do."

So, from this, we know that it is possible for a person to say all the right things and still be wrong.

In Matthew chapter 7, Jesus did not say, "Ye shall know them by their words." He said, "Ye shall know them by their fruits."

**Although the scribes and the pharisees were in a place of legitimate authority and were not false prophets, per se, the things Jesus says in Matthew chapter 7, can be very valuable in identifying the false prophets Jesus warned about in that chapter.

Having said all that, let's look at Dead Works -Vs- Living Faith.

Living Faith is rooted entirely in love and relationship. The Bible says living faith works by love, while being "religious" is always rooted in dead works.

It is possible to be saved and at the same time have our lives filled with dead works?which almost certainly choke out the living faith we should be growing in.

When Jesus swung his spiritual 2x4 at the religious leadership of his day, he pointed out how beautiful their outward appearance of holiness was.

Dead works are seductive. They appear beautiful. They feel good (read Proverbs 14:12).

They are very deceiving. Dead works can cause us to adopt a form a godliness while missing the real thing entirely.

Jesus said those who appeared to be so holy and spiritual, were nothing more than elaborately, beautifully "decorated" grave sites. They were walking dead men. Their faith was not alive. Under the lovely veneer of religion, they were full of putrefication and stunk to high heaven.

That is the case with all dead works.

And what was worse, those who looked to them for instruction in the ways of life--became like them--putrefied, stinking, children of hell. Read Matthew 23:15.

Jesus called those who depended upon adherence to rituals and the visual reinforcements of religion "blind fools."

Jesus did stress that obeying the written Word of God?the scriptures?was always the right thing to do, but he clarified that by saying that it is the spirit?not the letter?that gives life (23:23).

The spirits, those personal non-benevolent entities, that deceived the blind religious fools of Jesus' day are still alive and well today. And they still produce only dead works and death.

In seeking to establish their own righteousness, many, along with the scribes and the Pharisees, have rejected the righteousness that comes only by faith in the shed blood, the death and the resurrection of Jesus Christ?without rituals, works or visual reinforcements. Read Romans 10:2-3, then proceed to 9-13.

Blind, religious fools do not believe they have rejected God's righteousness. There is no way we could convince most them that they are not?of all people?most holy--definitely most spiritual.

But too much of their faith is rooted in ritual, in visual reinforcement, in their own works, activities, will-power and ability.

Because of that subtle deception, many are deceived into thinking they have living faith, when in reality they are keeping company with the scribes and the Pharisees?the very ones Jesus called the walking dead.

Don't we want every part of our faith to be living?

If anyone one feels they can connect with Jesus better through any religious ritual, ceremony or by adhering to a set of activities, rules and regulations (even ones we establish for ourselves), this is not living faith. This is being religious. All such things are dead works. They are useless.

In God's eyes they are worse than useless?they stink.

Does the presence of religious pictures, symbols, images such as Jesus, crosses, so-called angels or icons of any sort give you comfort and help you feel holier and closer to God?

The Bible forbids such things and makes very clear that those who resort to visuals do not possess a living faith.

Such practices are merely religious, providing a façade of faith toward the true and living God, and a façade of spirituality, i.e., dead works.

Jesus, the Creator, is not revealed in icons, images or symbols. He is only revealed in things that were made without human hands.

Jesus, the Living Word, is revealed within the pages of the God breathed, written Word of God?the Holy Scriptures.

Jesus, the only way, the only truth and the only life, resides within those who belong to him. He is always there. He requires no ritual or visual reinforcement-beyond faith and obedience to the scriptures, in order to activate his presence and power in our lives.

In reality, these visuals detract from his presence, which needs no help from us besides a surrendered life.

We are commanded in the Word of God, the second commandment found in Deuteronomy chapter five, verse eight, not to provide ourselves with any image.

The scriptures say, "Blessed are those who have not seen yet believed." Faith without visuals is the purest faith.

It is a spirit of idolatry which drives people to desire visuals. We need to "see," but our sight must come only through eyes of faith.

And faith is what...?

The substance of things hoped for?the evidence of things "not" seen.

The scriptures are clear that it is sin to provide ourselves with visuals intended to reinforce our faith or to advertise our beliefs to others. Using visuals to advertise our beliefs to others is not being a witness. That is also a dead work... Not a living faith.

The religious leadership of Jesus' day did all those things?and taught others to do them as well...

And Jesus exposed them?publicly and undiplomatically?for the blind, fool hypocrites that they really were... (Matthew 23:5).

Christian Book Publisher, Jocelyn Andersen, is the author of, Woman Submit! Christians & Domestic Violence, For more information about her books, visit her author page at amazon.com/author/jocelynandersen

Monday, April 7, 2008

We hear the word "Pharisee" being tossed around quite liberally these days.

Many Christians today define "Pharisee" as someone who is always "finding fault" with others. We recently heard one pastor use the scripture passage in Mark 7:1-15 (where Jesus called the Pharisees "God hating hypocrites") as a basis for coming to the conclusion that we should always say positive things and that we should never say negative things. We had a difficult time understanding how this conclusion could be reached in light of Jesus' accusations against the Pharisees recorded in that same chapter. Rather, the focus was only on the “negative” words and “fault finding” of the Pharisees themselves without regard for the absolutely evil intentions which lay behind them—which was to gather evidence they could use in order to have Jesus, the Lord of Glory, put to death.

Does Mark chapter seven really teach that everything that comes out of our mouths should be "positive" and that we should never be like the Pharisees and say things that are "negative?" Can “positive” be defined as always being good? Can “negative” be defined as always being wicked? Many, in these last days, say the answer to these questions is, yes. But does the Bible teach that this is so? Can the Pharisees in Mark chapter 7 honestly be cited as biblical examples of these false definitions of the words positive and negative? Can we stay true to scripture while minimizing and transforming the hypocritical, extremely dangerous, God-hating, scripture hating, murderous Pharisees into simply being "negative, fault finders" who could not "get along" with others?

How about the fact that in that same passage of scripture we read that Jesus made no effort whatsoever to "get along" with the Pharisees? What about the fact that he also "found fault" with them and said "negative" things to them by calling them God-hating hypocrites?

Can anyone argue that calling someone a "hypocrite" is a negative statement? So how do we reconcile that with being told to never say anything negative? Was Jesus being "wicked" when he attached such a non-affirming label to the Pharisees and negatively accused them of secretly hating God (drawing near to him with their mouths but their hearts were far from him)?

We have heard Christians minimize and transform the scripture that commands us to "love the brethren" into one that simply tells us to always "get along" with everyone. One pastor said that if anyone could not "get along" with people, then the Bible says they are not saved.

Always "getting along with everyone" is a shallow and utterly false interpretation of the biblical command found in 1 John to "love the brethren"—especially so if one observes that the passage in question, which tells us that we can know we have passed from death into life if we love the brethren, is dealing with the example of one man, Cain, who hated his brother, Abel, so much that he murdered him.

Is there any way this verse can be used as a good example of simply "not getting along?"

No, there is not. It is possible to “not get along" with someone without hating them. And it is possible to hate someone while putting on a very convincing public show of “getting along” with them. The example given in 1 John, is an example of one man who was in total rebellion against the Word and will of God and absolutely hated his brother who was completely submitted to the will and word of God.

Cain considered the blood sacrifice offered by Abel to be undesirable, "negative," i.e.—bad. With his offering, when he brought the beautiful life-affirming fruits of his labor before the Lord, Cain certainly kept everything on a very upbeat, "positive," level. He could not see the sense in killing an innocent animal (The sacrifice of Christ is called obscene by some who profess to be Christians). But when God rejected Cain's "positive" life-affirming offering, Cain had no qualms about murdering his own brother.

In light of this scenario, which is the background for John’s statement about loving the brethren, can we honestly say that not "getting along" is evidence that we are not saved? No, that is definitely a shallow minimization and entirely inappropriate definition for 1 John 3:14.

The Bible is clear that we should always speak the truth in love. But can speaking the truth appear to be "negative" and even be the cause of conflict? Jesus said that he would pit mothers against daughters, sons against fathers and brothers against brothers. Jesus said that he did not come (the first time) to bring peace but rather a sword. Jesus made it obvious that speaking and standing for the truth, contending earnestly for the faith, as the Bible commands us to do, will cause conflict. Jesus identified Abel as a prophet. Abel spoke the truth. Abel became the first martyr. And he died at the hands of his brother for standing for the truth--not because they simply could not "get along."

Can we unequivocally say speaking the truth will always sound positive? There are many examples in scripture where the truth, even where spoken in love and compassion, does not sound up-beat or optimistic, and indeed can be very bad news. Read Luke 23:28-31.

We are commanded in scripture to confront sin among the "brethren." That is a loving thing to do although as first it may seem very "negative," (not up-beat and optimistic--gloomy?) even when confronting the brother or sister in meekness and love as we are commanded to do. We are commanded to confront the sin of teaching false doctrine as well as sins of immorality. In fact, the sin of teaching false doctrine—heresy—is so serious, that we are commanded in scripture to admonish a heretic only once or twice before separating him from our company altogether. Could anyone misconstrue that as a negative (offensive) action? Sure they could. But they would be wrong.

Many Christians today refuse to contend for the faith by taking up the centuries old mantra of, "In essentials Unity. In non-essentials liberty. In all things charity." It is a mis-application of the meaning of this saying, which can be traced back to the Protestant Reformation, if it is being used in regards to doctrine. The reformers never compromised on matters of clear biblical teaching. They allowed themselves to be imprisoned, tortured and killed before they compromised the clear teachings of scripture. The Bible says the world is not worthy of these Christians, yet who can say they were always careful to say only “positive” (optimistic) things and worried about “getting along” with everyone?

If a brother or a sister is blatantly practicing sin and refuses to repent of and forsake that sin, we are commanded in scripture not to even sit down and take a meal with that person—does this sound "positive?" (affirming) No, it does not sound positive. But it is scriptural and good fruit always comes of being obedient to scripture. The Bible instructs us to openly rebuke those that sin so that others may fear the consequences of sinful behavior. Does this sound positive (affirming)? Hardly. And, sadly, this command is being disregarded on a wholesale level within churches today. Ironically though, even though those in the church who practice sin are routinely ignored and treated “positively,” (in a manner which affirms their sinful choices) those who are contending for the faith, as the scriptures command, are being openly rebuked...so that others may fear the consequences of dissenting when false doctrine is being taught. This is wrong and it is wicked.

This business of positive, negative and always "getting along" with people is not about true, biblical, Christian unity. It is Satan’s counterfeit of biblical Christian unity. The definitions of "positive and negative" (which refer to energy or electricity—not to good or bad) have absolutely nothing to do with biblical concepts but have everything to do with psychological / New Age concepts of positive and negative which denote optimistic, pessimistic, good, bad, affirming or non-affirming or offensive.

The New Age / psychological concept of always being positive and never being negative cannot be found in scripture. Indeed, the language is loaded, and the way we currently use the words, "positive and negative," cloud understanding, shrinks vocabulary, reduces capacity for critical thinking, and turns us into mindless automatons spouting propaganda using slogans such as, Always be positive! Never be negative! What in the world does that mean anyway? The word "positive" has simply become a slang term for several different words that have completely different definitions—and the same goes for the word "negative."

Negative = PESSIMISTIC, looking at the what can go wrong (not to be confused with trouble-shooting, which is a good thing if not taken to extremes)

Negative = OFFENSIVE

Suggestion: Consciously choose words which clearly describe what we are attempting to say rather than inserting all purpose slogans which are not true to the meaning of what we are trying to communicate and that narrow our thinking and cloud our understanding and perceptions.

On the subject of "always getting along," scripture does not teach that everyone should always "get along." If that was the case, then Jesus, our primary example, would have been a dismal failure as a Christian. He never attempted to “get along” with everyone, but always spoke the truth. And what about the prophets? How many of them made certain their words always sounded "positive" and made certain they "got along" with everyone?

The concept of everyone "getting along" simply cannot be found in scripture either. It can, however, be found in interfaith ecumenism. Interfaith ecumenism is Satan’s counterfeit of Christian unity, a reverse, demonic, unity based on rejection of scripture as our final authority for faith and doctrine. In fact, interfaith ecumenism, the goal of which is a one world religion, operates on the basic concept that holding to any doctrine—at all—is divisive and therefore should be rejected in favor of "unity-at-any-cost." Sadly, many Christians today are falling for this counterfeit and promoting a sinful, compromising, unity which does not tend toward life.

At the tower of Babel, God made very clear what he thinks about the concept of unity at any cost—which is Satan's and the coming world leader's, the anti-Christ's, goal. God deliberately caused division at Babel in order to stop the evil of unity-at-any cost from progressing. However, in these last days, God is permitting interfaith ecumenism, unity-at-any-cost, Satan's counterfeit of biblical unity, to progress. A shaking is taking place within the Body of Christ, and God is allowing this shaking to happen. In fact, the Bible tells us that He is the one who is doing the shaking. This is happening in conjunction with the apostasy that is sweeping the Christian church at this time. Many are falling away—being shaken loose, just as is prophesied in 2 Thessalonians chapter two. Only those who refuse to be shaken loose will receive a kingdom which cannot be moved. The great apostasy, the falling away, predicted in 2 Thessalonians chapter two, is going on right now, and those who are sounding the alarm, contending earnestly for the faith, and plucking brands from the fire, are being libeled as divisive, hard to "get along with,” and negative.

The Word of God clearly predicted the flood of lies and deception that is being spewed from the mouths and pulpits of what, at one time, were Bible believing pastors, churches, and denominations. And the Bible tells us that the coming of Christ, and the revelation of the anti-Christ, will be preceded by a time in which many will "fall away.” We know that we are no longer looking forward to that time but are now living in it.

Too many pastors are entertaining their congregations so well, that Christians are not catching on to the fact that, in between and through the jokes, they are being deceived. Even congregations that have not, as yet accepted the mystical, contemplative spirituality, or the false Prophetic Movement (both movements are sweeping through the church at lightning speed) are being spoon-fed ecumenical, purpose driven lies, and are being indoctrinated into—and accepting—the most basic concepts of the coming global religion of the anti-Christ which will consist of exactly the things being promoted so aggressively in almost all churches these days.

Things such as:

• Always be positive. Positive is always good

• Never be negative. Negative is always bad

• Never criticize. Criticism is always bad

• Never Judge (even though we are commanded in scripture to judge)

• "Get along" with everyone (If you don't, it is sign you are not saved)

These things are not biblical. What ever happened to Christians "trying the spirits" by comparing what is being said from the pulpit with what the Word of God actually says?

Many pastors deliberately frame blatantly false statements with humor. This is a common and very effective maneuver used by those who know they are making statements that cannot be backed up by scripture and that would be offensive to and challenged by Bible reading listeners if not sugar-coated and camouflaged by cheap, comical words and antics.

Many pastors are still holding onto a few things that are good, but our hearts are grieved by what we are seeing and hearing almost everywhere we go these days. We are also convinced that there are many Christians who are still holding fast to the faith delivered once for all, but they do not seem to be contending for the faith as the Bible commands.

Why?

Are they simply not catching the deception spewing from their pastor's mouths? Or have the false definitions that positive is always good, negative is always wicked, and that loving the brethren simply means everybody "getting along" succeeded in intimating them into holding their peace for fear of being labeled "Pharisees" or even worse, "not being saved at all?"

The type of leadership employed by pastors who are attempting to execute a paradigm shift within their congregations is one that uses dialectics well. Dialectics, when facilitated skillfully, produces "group think." People tend to have a herd mentality anyway, but group think is a much more insidious form of this mentality. Group think deliberately and aggressively pits the GROUP against the ONE who would dare to think for his or her self. This concept is used successfully by all totalitarian governments(of which the government and religion of the anti-Christ will be) in silencing dissenters. But this type of leadership is not for the Church of the Living God and is certainly not taught in the Holy Scriptures nor inspired by the Holy Spirit of God.

Yes, we hear the word "Pharisee" being tossed around quite liberally these days...

And it is an unfortunate shame that it is almost always used in reference to those who love the written Word of God, read it daily, are willing to contend earnestly for the faith, and believe that the scriptures are the final authority on all doctrinal issues rather than someone's opinion, feeling, or extra-scriptural revelation.

The sad fact is, that it is usually the one's using the word "Pharisee" to begin with, who fit the description Jesus applied to them in Mark Chapter seven, verses 1-15.

New
Age Christianity, takes a close look at some of the ways New Age
teaching and practices find their way into our churches and the lives of
Christians. The prophetic and spiritual formation movements are just a few of
those ways. Both movements corrupt believers from the simplicity of Christ by
weaving unbiblical precepts and practices into the fabric of their lives and
faith.

Christian Book Publisher, Jocelyn Andersen, is the author of, Woman Submit! Christians & Domestic Violence, For more information about her books, visit her author page at amazon.com/author/jocelynandersen